In every business relationship there is the potential for conflict over contractual agreements or business operations. When such conflicts arise, there is no need to incur the onerous expense and delays involved in traditional litigation. There are readily available alternative dispute resolution procedures that will enable you to resolve your disputes relatively quickly, fairly and cost-effectively.

Resolving international disputes demands special skills, experience and cultural sensitivity. That’s why thousands of attorneys and their clients turn to JAMS. We are a recognized leader in cross-border mediations and arbitrations, with resources wherever you or your clients do business.

Colleges and universities need to manage, resolve and prevent conflict. As a worldwide leader in dispute resolution, JAMS is singularly qualified to provide a comprehensive range of unique and effective solutions for problems facing students, faculty and administration.

The JAMS ADR blog serves to engage our clients, the legal community and the public in a discussion about alternative dispute resolution. As leaders in mediation, arbitration and more, we strive to remain at the forefront of legal developments, trends and news in areas of law that pertain to ADR.

With industry leading arbitration rules, JAMS is praised for a highly experienced panel with specialties in many key areas, multilingual case management capabilities, and unparalleled service. JAMS specializes in the resolution of international disputes and is one of the largest providers of commercial arbitration in the world.

ADR and Blockchain Technology

JAMS closely tracks emerging developments affecting our industry and the clients we serve, including technological advances that may change how alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is used. Smart contracts utilizing blockchain are one such example.

What Are Smart Contracts?

A smart contract is a coded, self-executing agreement between parties on a blockchain (a decentralized ledger of all cryptocurrency transactions). Smart contracts raise unique concerns for several reasons, including the general anonymity associated with the process (as with transactions involving Bitcoin, Monero, Zcash, Ethereum, and Litecoin, to name a few), and the regulatory and enforcement issues surrounding the entire crypto ecosystem.

This also creates new challenges and opportunities for dispute resolution mechanisms, whether they are needed to address a contractual dispute, an unforeseen coding error, hacking or some other event. Errors and other issues affecting a smart contract could occur both on and off the blockchain.

While some “on-chain” disputes could be candidates for self-executing, automated resolution, there is uncertainty regarding how complex or high-value disputes should be handled. This uncertainty causes apprehension in potential litigants because the resolution methods in this arena may turn out to be fundamentally different from traditional methods such as the court system and ADR processes such asmediation and arbitration.

Utilizing ADR in Disputes Arising from Blockchain Activities

JAMS is the first institutional ADR provider to create protocols supporting the use of ADR in disputes arising from blockchain activities, including smart contracts. Draft JAMS rules and clauses are being vetted currently by industry groups, experts, and potential users, and can be made available for review and comment upon request. For more information, please contact Jon Trujillo at jtrujillo@jamsadr.com regarding your interest and organizational affiliation.

Mediation Services

Rigorous preparation. Creative solutions. Persistent follow-up. We work diligently every step of the way-from pre-mediation calls to post-mediation follow-up to help all parties arrive at the best possible outcome to their dispute.

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This website is not a solicitation for business. All content on the JAMS website is intended to provide general information about JAMS and an opportunity for interested persons to contact JAMS. The content of this website is not offered as legal advice or legal opinion and it should not be relied upon for any specific situation. JAMS neutrals are not engaged in the practice of law and no attorney client relationship is intended. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a complete description of JAMS services. While JAMS endeavors to keep the information updated and correct, JAMS makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in this website. See More